Gas meter reversing mechanism



June 5, 1934. VON SCHUTZ 1,961,654

GAS METER REVERSING MECHANISM Filed July 22, 1931 l I I I T IW l l; 0,.- If F K2 I a //7 ven top:

Patented June 5, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE Application July 22, 1931, Serial No. 552,533 In Germany July 26, 1930 Claims.

This invention relates to reversing mechanisms for' the valves of gasmeters.

As well known, gas-meters of the valve type possess two measuring chambers, which are alternately filled and emptied with the assistance or" suddenly reversed valves. These valves, usually double-seating valves, are reversed in such fash ion that during the movement of the diaphragm energy is stored in a reversing mechanism by work performed, which energy, as the stroke changes, is suddenly released and utilized for moving the valves into the opposite position.

The object of this invention is a reversing mechanism the noise of which when reversing is re duced to a minimum and in which the friction between the levers is utilized for pressing the valves on their seats whereby a tight closure of the valves is attained.

For a complete understanding of this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a view of the reversing mechanism together with the valves in one end position.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the reversing mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a view of the reversing mechanism in the other end position.

Fig. 4 is a modification of a detail of the reversing mechanism.

Fig. 5 is an end view of a somewhat modified reversing mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail viewof a special embodiment of the snapping spring.

In the embodiment of the reversing mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 3, V1 and V2 designate valve casings which must be regarded as being built into the cylindrical partition between the chambers of a two-chamber gas-meter, this wall not being shown. The valve spindles 21 and 22 are operated by forks 23 and 24. These are rigidly connected with the levers K1 and K2 forming two angle-levers which are pivotally mounted at the points 25 and 26 respectively. The inwardly di rected ends K1 and K2 of the angle levers are forced into the opposite positions by the snapping spring Kr, which acts as pressure spring, so that the valves assume, for example, the position shown in Fig. 1. At the centre between the shafts 25 and 26 there is situated parallel thereto the pivot shaft 29 connected rigidly to the guide lever F and pivotally mounted in a bearing 30 possibly carried by the base plate G. The guide lever F carries rigidly connected to it a bolt 31 which serves for pivotally mounting a bushing 32 to which the reversing lever U is fixedly connected. On the bushing 32 there is secured a sleeve-like or box-like abutment 33, which is in loose communication with the central part of the spring Kr.

On the stud 35 of the reversing lever U there engages the reversing spring Ur, the other end of which is connected by means of an intermediate. link 36 to the pivot 37 on the guide lever F. The reversing spring Uf acts as a resilient tension member between reversing lever U and guide lever F. It is preferably so wound that its windings are closed or practically closed in the extreme position as shown, in order not to overload the valves. The conjoint movement of the guide lever by the diaphragm in the different directions of the arrow 38 occurs in any desired fashion with the assistance of a connecting member 39. The operation is as follows:

In Figs. 1 and 3 the positions of the mechanism are shown after the reversal. In these positions the practically relaxed reversing spring Ur exerts on the spring K: a certain compulsion, which considerably assists towards amplifying the pressure on the valves emanating therefrom. Upon advance of the rod 39 and movement of the guide lever F into the position in the direction of the point 40 the spring Ur is tensioned. Since the box-like abutment 33 is connected rigidly to the bushing 32 pivotally mounted on the bolt 31 of the guide lever and since a fric tional pressure between bolt 31 and bushing 32 results owing to the tension of the spring Ur, the reversing lever U is communicated a turning moment in the direction of pivotal movement of the guide lever F. In this manner the friction between the respective bushings of the reversing and guide lever amplifies the compulsion on the spring Kr, by the box-like abutment 33, throughout the whole movement, and the high pressure thus accomplished is maintained until reversal has taken place. The fact that the spring Kr has been bent slightly into S-form certainly represents a slight diminishment of its expanding force, but this is of no importance as compared with the torque transmitted in' direct fashion transversely through the same to the angle levers K1, K2. As soon as the guide lever F is turned'so far that the stud 35 and the pivot 37 come to lie in a straight line with the pivot shaft 29, i. e. when the pivot 37 has reached point 40 (Fig. 1), the counter-force of the spring Kr dis.- tortecl into S-form suddenly overcomes the friction of the bushing occurring at the bolt 31 and the free end of the reversing lever U is brought beyond the straight line through the pivot shaft 29 and the pivot 3'7. In this position the force of the reversing spring U: which has become stretched during the aforegoing movement of the guide lever F already possesses, in relation to the shaft 29, sufficient length of lever arm to ensure that the reversal will be completed, the reversing mechanism then assuming the position shown in Fig. 3.

The effect of the present construction is accordingly based on the one hand on the fact that between the levers hard abutments between nonyielding parts are avoided, whereby elements already used in connection with the gear are employed as resilient stops, and consequently no idle motion, or only very little, requires to be provided between the same. As the force due to the friction between the bushings of the reversing and the guide levers, although being small, is of considerable amount in relation to the forces exerted by the springs and as this force is utilized for amplifying the pressure on the valves both springs may be made relatively weak. A triple advantage is accordingly derived, viz., require ment for only little force, even with high pressure on the valves, and little noise.

Apart from this the present mechanism also oifers advantages of a structural kind. By reason of the same it is possible to space the valves widely apart in the cylindrical wall which, in the case of gas-meters having a circular casing, acts as a partition for the measuring chambers, whereby the space between the valves is available for the fitting of the counting mechanism. The three shafts 25, 26 and 29 may be readily mounted in a simple, strip-like base plate which, without touching the bottom of the casing, may be secured with its ends to the cylindrical portion. In this manner damage to the mechanism should the casing be dented will be avoided.

The arrangement of the shaft 29 and the bolt 31 with the levers F and U shown in Fig. 2 may also be varied as shown in Fig. 4 in such fashion that on the base plate there is mounted a fixed shaft 41, on which, by means of the bushing 42, there rotates the lever F. On bushing 42 there is provided the bushing 43 for the reversing lever U. In accordance with Fig. 5 the arrangement may be such that the reversing mechanism is mounted in a separate chamber, so that the more delicate parts thereof are protected against deposits of dirt contained in the gas. In this case the bearings for the angle levers will be so constructed in the manner shown that the base plate passes between the levers K1 and K2 and the forks 23 and 24. In this manner the base plate is capable of forming part of a partition, by means of which the reversing mechanism may be separately enclosed within the particular measuring chamber.

Since the resistance of the spring Kr (Figs. 1-3) is called upon to satisfy two conditions in the axial direction and transversely thereto, it may be found desirable to employ for this pur pose two separate springs, of which the one receives the axial pressure and the other the bending strain. According to Fig. 6, the springs are in this case preferably inserted one within the other. The inner spring 50 is wound in close form, and leaves the heads 51, 52, furnished with studs, with a certain amount of play in the axial direction. The outer weaker spring 53 presses the heads apart. The same is preferably wound in the opposite direction.

In a gasmeter equipped with a reversing mechanism according to this invention preferably a counting mechanism is employed which is driven by the to and fro moving diaphragm and which does not count the number of strokes but takes into account the length of the strokes of the diaphragm.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a reversing mechanism for the valves of gasmeters, the valves being provided with spindles, a guide lever, a reversing lever, a reversing spring, an intermediate link, said reversing spring being tensioned between the ends of the reversing lever and the guide lever by means of said intermediate link, two angle levers, a snapping spring engaging by means of the said angle levers with the spindles of the said valves, a box-like abutment fixedly connected to the reversing lever and engaging the said snapping spring intermediate the ends for transmitting the movement of the reversing lever to said snapping spring and a stud connected rigidly to the guide lever, on which stud the said reversing lever is pivotally mounted in such fashion that the torque of the said reversing lever resulting from the friction during the movement is utilized for reinforcing the pressure on the said valves.

2. In a reversing mechanism for the valves of gasmeters, the valves being provided with spindles, a guide lever, a reversing lever, a reversing spring, an intermediate link, said reversing spring being tensioned between the ends of the reversing lever and the guide lever by means of said intermediate link, two angle levers, a snapping spring engaging by means of the said angle levers with the spindles of the said valves, a box-like abutment fixedly connected to the reversing lever and engaging the said snapping spring intermediate the ends for transmitting the movement of the reversing lever to the said snapping spring, and a stud connected rigidly to the guide lever, the said stud being situated in the axis of pivotal movement of the said guide lever and on which stud the said reversing lever is pivotally mounted.

3. In a reversing mechanism for the valves of gasmeters, the valves being provided with spindles, a guide lever, a reversing lever, a reversing spring, an intermediate link, said reversing spring being tensioned between the ends of the reversing lever and the guide lever by means of said intermediate link, two angle levers, a snapping spring engaging by means of the said angle levers with the spindles of the said valves, a box-like abutment fixedly connected to the reversing lever and engaging the said snapping spring intermediate the ends for transmitting the movement of the reversing lever to the said snapping spring and a stud connected rigidly to the guide lever, the said stud being situated near the axis of pivotal movement of the said guide lever and on which stud the said reversing lever is pivotally mounted.

4. In a reversing mechanism for the valves of gasmeters, the valve being provided with spindles, a guide lever, a reversing lever, a reversing spring, an intermediate link, said reversing spring being tensioned between the ends of the reversing lever and the guide lever by means of said intermediate link, two angle levers, a snapping spring engaging by means of the said angle levers with the spindles of the said valves, a coil spring, situated within the snapping spring for reinforcing same against bending stress, and a box-like abutment fixedly connected to the reversing lever and engaging the said snapping spring intermediate the ends for transmitting the movement of the reversing lever to the said snapping spring.

5. In a reversing mechanism for the valves of gasmeters, the valves being provided with spindles, a guide lever, a reversing lever, a reversing spring, an intermediate link, said reversing spring being tensioned between the ends of the reversing lever and the guide lever by means of said intermediate link, two angle levers, a snapping spring engaging by means of the said angle levers with the spindles of the said valves, a coil spring, situated within the snapping spring for reinforcing same against bending stress, a box-like abutment fixedly connected to the reversing lever and 

